Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam storefront for its title Rideshare Simulator to include a clear disclaimer about the use of artificial intelligence in the game's development. This move comes after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the studio had dismissed a writer working on the project and substituted her contributions with text generated by AI tools.
The full wording of the new disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows remarks made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by the company from July 2023 until July 2024. Sacco alleges that she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through production and that her responsibilities were taken over by ChatGPT, along with other undisclosed AI applications used during development." In a series of public statements, Karch attempted to clarify the situation.
He asserted that Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and he added that, looking back, "I would have been comfortable replacing her with AI." He further explained that the studio had already disclosed its intention to incorporate AI for specific aspects of the game and that a more detailed update would be posted to the Steam page once the feature set was finalized. During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch made a striking comment: "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." This remark underscored the apparent disconnect between the CEO and the former employee, fueling speculation about internal communication breakdowns. Karch continued, "We view our use of AI in this particular title, which will be a lower‑priced offering, as a benefit for consumers." The controversy escalated when Sacco took to the social platform BlueSky over the weekend to share her perspective.
She wrote that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." Sacco emphasized that she had remained steadfast from the beginning, insisting that her account of events was truthful. "I think we can all now agree that it has been borne out," she said.
She also noted that Karch expressed a desire to make amends, though she was uncertain what that would look like for her personally. "I’ll need some time to sit with it, but I do at least accept his apology," she added.
Karch later posted a separate statement on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional reaction. "I unfortunately got triggered by certain later comments (for reasons I won’t get into) and shot first and thought second about how to respond," he wrote. "It happens and I am a human being.
I have done what I can to rectify." The episode highlights a broader industry debate about the role of AI in creative processes. While some developers tout AI as a tool that can streamline writing, asset creation, and testing, others warn that reliance on machine‑generated content may undermine the authenticity and craftsmanship that gamers expect. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the dispute revolves around whether a human writer’s contributions were unfairly discarded in favor of a language model, and whether the studio’s communication about that decision was transparent.
Industry observers note that AI‑generated text has become increasingly sophisticated, with models like ChatGPT, Claude, and others capable of producing coherent narrative passages, dialogue, and even design documentation. However, these tools still lack the nuanced understanding of tone, cultural context, and player empathy that a seasoned writer brings to a project. Critics argue that substituting a writer with AI could result in generic, less engaging content, potentially harming a game’s reception.
From a legal standpoint, the situation also raises questions about employment contracts and intellectual property. If a writer is removed from a project and their work is replaced by AI, does the studio retain any obligations to the former employee? Labor experts suggest that clear policies regarding AI usage should be incorporated into contracts to avoid misunderstandings and potential litigation. Saber Interactive’s decision to add the AI disclaimer can be seen as an attempt to restore trust with its community and to comply with emerging best practices for transparency.
By explicitly stating where AI has been employed, the company acknowledges the growing scrutiny from both players and regulators who are keen to understand how much of a game’s content is human‑crafted versus machine‑generated. The incident also serves as a cautionary tale for other studios navigating the integration of AI tools.
Open communication, respectful treatment of staff, and a willingness to address concerns promptly appear essential to maintaining morale and public goodwill. As AI continues to evolve, the industry will likely develop clearer standards and perhaps even certification processes to verify the extent of AI involvement in game development.
In summary, Saber Interactive’s recent actions—adding an AI disclaimer to the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator and CEO Matt Karch’s public apology to former writer Stella Sacco—reflect a growing awareness of the need for transparency and accountability when employing artificial intelligence in creative projects. The episode underscores the importance of balancing technological efficiency with the human talent that shapes compelling gaming experiences, and it highlights the ongoing conversation about ethical AI usage within the video game industry.